Isaiah George is leaving at impression on the NY Islanders

It has only been three games since Isaiah George made his NHL debut with the NY Islanders, but he’s been all the rage in Islanders country.

Drafted in the 4th Round in 2022, George made the jump to the professional level this season, reporting to the Bridgeport Islanders after training camp. 

After playing only four games in the AHL, George received his first NHL call-up as the Islanders have been without any of their left-handed defensemen who started the season.

Isaiah George leaving his mark

"Sometimes you're afraid to throw someone in,” said Patrick Roy after George’s call-up. “But like I said to Lou in our conversation, I was also 20, and I'm sure, probably, my teammates were sh--ing their pants how nervous they were when I played my first game. But sometimes, that's the way it is. You got to give a chance to someone, and I think he's ready for it."

Since making his debut, George has been nothing short of sensational. At only 20 years old and with only four games of professional experience, it was expected that Roy would have him eating whatever minutes he could when the time presented itself. Instead, George has been turned to as one of the team's top defensemen, now playing on the top defensive pairing alongside Noah Dobson. 

In his three games, George has recorded ice time of 15:41, 23:59, and 24:07.

George has yet to tally a point with the NHL, but that’s not one of his strong suits. His skating is phenomenal, and his first passes out of the zone have been crisp, bringing a new element to the Islanders’ blue line. 

Not only has George been recognized by the Islanders faithful, but he’s also gaining attention from some of the biggest names across the hockey landscape.

"The Islanders look like they have a real find here,” said Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “And it's early, he's going to have some tough nights, there's gonna be ups and downs, but that kid looks like a player."

As Friedman said, there will be some bumps in the road for George along the way, but with the uncertainty surrounding Mike Reilly’s return this season, it appears as if going to be difficult to pull George from this lineup.